Thursday, September 24, 2009

Po Nigga Blues / Cause I Had To


This story has kind of slipped below the radar, but I figured I’d pick up on it since it interests me greatly:

West coast rapper Joseph “The Govenor” Flowers was one of 2Pac’s peers in the early Thug Life movement along with Richie Rich, Big Syke and the ol’ crew. On Floss Mode, his 1995 album, The Govenor released a 2Pac-assisted track titled “Po’ Nigga Bluez”. 2Pac could be heard uttering the chorus on this track, but how else did he contribute to it? Whether they heard it from the OG version or the Scott Storch remix, many 2Pac fans can recite the verses from “Po Nigga Blues” a.k.a. “Cause I Had To”. These rhymes are nearly-identical to the Govenor-spit verses on Floss Mode. The question is: did 2Pac write The Govenor’s verses?

The Govenor argues otherwise. In fact, he argues that Interscope Records and Universal Music unlawfully used “Po’ Nigga Bluez” as the basis for 2Pac’s posthumous Loyal to the Game album, on the aforementioned Scott Storch remix “Po Nigga Blues” with Ron Isley. Govenor claims he wrote the song in 1990.

I remain skeptical. For starters, the lyrical content on those verses seem to reflect 2Pac’s very own style. Mentions of police brutality, rising up against crooked cops, wearing bulletproof vests and denouncing wars, despite being open to anyone’s range, are all trademark ‘Pac. Lines like “I wonder if the Lord ever heard of me” are about as ‘Pac as a ‘Pac line can get. Add all that to the fact that if you compare ‘Pac and The Govenor’s respective recitations of the verses, ‘Pac’s flow is much more precise and on point – and 2Pac is not often praised for his “flow” capabilities. Finally, let’s not forget that a large chunk of those bars were not only used by ‘Pac on “Cause I Had To” but on “I Wonder if Heaven Got a Ghetto” as well.

I could be misinformed though. Or maybe my strong 2Pac bias has once again gotten the best of me. I’m interested in following this story as it progress (if it progresses), but ‘til then, I’ll leave it up to you! I’ve included all of the “Po Nigga Blues”/”Cause I Had To” versions I’ve got (plus a sample as bonus) so you can check ‘em out for yourselves and form an opinion. What do you think? Dig in, turn it up and drop a comment!
1. 2Pac - Po Nigga Blues (Cause I Had To) (OG) (2:54)
2. 2Pac - Po Nigga Blues (Cause I Had To) (Alternate Version) (3:07)
3. 2Pac - Po' Nigga Bluez (w/The Govenor) (4:10)
4. 2Pac - Po Nigga Blues (Cause I Had To) (Remix) (4:05)
5. 2Pac - Po Nigga Blues (Cause I Had To) (Shock G Version) (4:04)
6. 2Pac - Po Nigga Blues (Scott Storch Remix w/Ron Isley) (3:39)
7. 2Pac - Po Nigga Blues (Cause I Had To) (Acapella) (3:18)
8. Grover Washington, Jr. & Bill Withers - Just the Two of Us (7:23)


Bonus! Download a 320 kbps rip of The Govenor's album, Floss Mode, here!